Researchers from Queen Mary University of London have drawn promising results from a clinical trial involving eight brain cancer patients with glioblastoma.
A genetically engineered virus is being researched as a potential treatment for aggressive brain tumours. Researchers from Queen Mary University of London have drawn promising results from a phase I clinical trial involving eight brain cancer patients with glioblastoma.
Glioblastoma is the most common high-grade brain tumour in adults. It grows quickly, is cancerous and is likely to come back even after it has been treated. The Brain Tumour Charity explains that glioblastomas can take many different forms and they are diffuse, which means that they have tendrils that spread into other parts of the brain.
The lack of defined edges and aggressive growth makes glioblastomas particularly challenging to treat, and sadly most patients survive just 14 months after diagnosis. The first line of treatment is usually neurosurgery to remove as much of the tumour as possible, if the patient is well enough to undergo this invasive procedure.
Some patients may additionally be treated with chemotherapy and radiotherapy. In some cases, a type of stereotactic radiotherapy called Gamma Knife surgery may be appropriate. This is a highly specialised non-invasive treatment that does not involve incisions, but is a method of directly highly targeted radiation beams at the tumour from multiple angles.
The precise focus of the radiation beams enables doctors to treat very small areas of the brain without damaging the surrounding healthy tissue. Most patients can be treated in a single session and are able to go home the same day. Compared to other forms of radiotherapy, Gamma Knife is considered to have fewer side effects.
While Gamma Knife surgery is one potential treatment option, there is always research ongoing to help people recover from brain cancer and other such diseases.
For example, the research team from Queen Mary University of London, in collaboration with the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Capital Medical University in Beijing, have developed a form of oncolytic virus, which is linked to the common cold.
These genetically engineered viruses (known as oncolytic virotherapy) are able to target and kill cancer cells while leaving the healthy surrounding cells unharmed, by restricting the release of the virus from the body’s cells. The virus is combined with immune boosting proteins that are then delivered directly to the cancerous cells.
Oncolytic virotherapy has previously been used to successfully treat skin cancer. However, finding the right balance is a difficult process: if the virus dose is too high, the risk of damaging side effects is too great. However, a weaker dose will not be able to tackle the cancer cells.
Professor Yaohe Wang, co-lead author of the study and inventor of the virus being tested, explained:“Most existing oncolytic viruses are ineffective at low doses and too toxic at higher doses. The key challenge is how to increase efficacy without causing harmful side effects. We believe our approach offers a way forward.”
He added: “I was introduced to the patient who had a complete response to the treatment, who shook my hand and thanked me. I was extremely touched by the experience, and it reinforced the potential of this therapy and the necessity to continue working hard on its development.”
“It’s like Yin and Yang. This virus enhances the positive signals that encourage the immune system to attack the tumour, but it could also be paired with treatments that block the tumour’s ability to suppress the immune system.”
After the phase I trial, one patient was in complete remission, and no serious side effects were observed. The treatment has been judged to be safe and effective for further development. The research team now plans to progress to phase II clinical trials on larger groups of patients, and will expand the research to include other cancer types.
However, while oncolytic virotherapy offers future potential, Gamma Knife surgery remains one of the most effective and minimally invasive treatments available today.
For further information about brain stem tumours glioblastoma treatment, please contact Mr Ciaran Hill of Amethyst Radiotherapy.
Centres of Excellence for Stereotactic Radiosurgery treatment of complex Brain Tumours
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